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Tuesday, July 31, 2018

I can't believe we are coming up on 3 years of blogging with these ladies with our HWWI series. And, this is the FIRST time we were all in the same place at the same time. So obviously, a major photoshoot needed to be done. I can tell you right now, this was one of the funnest shoots ever!

Let me just give a quick reason why I jumped on the 'fashion blogging' train. Being a Mom, I don't feel like I ever really get the chance to dress up or take nice photo's ever. Plus the post baby body has given me some unconfident feelings towards myself, which is never good! I guess you could say it's part of my 'me time'. I love getting ready, and I love taking photos, so doing some outfit posts just seemed so fun to me....gather a few other talented and wonderful ladies, and here we are! I've always had a love for blogging, but Instagram has kind of taken over my time instead of the blog, which is totally fine, but having the blog to tell some bigger stories or more photos about whatever is so nice to have as well. And I love that these ladies keep me blogging at least once a month.

It's crazy how much our body can change. Over the past years with photographing what I wear, Ive gone from a thinner me to a thicker me to a pregnant me to a post birth me. I've learned to dress for my body type with every stage, and it has been very complicated at times, and shopping has seemed impossible, but our bodies are amazing and it's been a goal of mine not to worry about it so much. Just go with the flow, have goals, but don't beat myself up if I don't reach them right away.

This month is HIGH WAISTED JEANS. I never thought id see the day where I would wear such a thing. But you guys, if you have a bit of tummy trouble, high waisted is the way to go!!! And no bum crack when you bend over. Double awesomeness. They give me a great shape for how my body looks right now, which brings on a big confidence booster for me! It also elongates your legs, which for my shorty little stub legs.....is a huge plus.

Dont forget to check out my stunning Blogger Babes at the bottom of this post!

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Kind of how I need my life to be right now...
But who am I kidding.....its SUMMER! It's time to get busy and play all day! I can relax and be a simple human next year.

I am back here in Alberta for 7 weeks! Our summer is PACKED.
A reunion in Utah, Camping in BC, Sister's Bachelorette Party, Weddings, Canada Day, Play Dates, Beach days, Photoshoots, Appointments, and so on and so on.
Maikal is currently still in Cleveland doing clinic, which he loves! He's working as an actual Dentist!
And we miss him SO MUCH. But we leave for his fam reunion in 6 days and he will meet us there (he's flying of course).

Just a quick Post OP info session: Maikal is doing Ok. His scar has separated behind the knee and it is very painful. Thank goodness for drugs. He is doing everything he can to keep it as good as possible so it heals nicely. Since I can't be there, friends have been taking excellent care of him! I am truly grateful for the people looking over him. So amazing.
PS. we had appointments booked for Aurora's teeth surgery for months and could not get out of it, so I had to come home when I did. I was devastated to leave Maikal so soon after surgery, I have pretty bad wife guilt. So we are just so excited to see him soon!

It has been so great staying with my parents and sister. I feel like I have constant support when dealing with the kids, which I really needed lol. I've just been GO GO GO the past 3 months!
Also, Maikal does not like taking pics of me, and Savannah does. So....thats a huge win for me!

This Month's HWWI is obviously the white T and jeans. I haven't worn actual jeans in .....years i feel. Simply because I find them stiff and uncomfortable. But these......they are so soft and so comfy....I may be converted back to Jean-ism. And wearing a white top isn't really ideal for a mom.....but every once and a while I will whip it out and get fancy!

It is a busy week for us! Aurora has her surgery tomorrow, so we will see how that goes, then wedding dress shopping on Thurs, then driving down south on Friday, then to the reunion in Utah! I try to keep up with my shinannigans on my insta-stories, so feel free to follow me on there!

Monday, June 4, 2018

So here we go. A very big post with a lot of emotion in it. Plus some cool pictures! If you have been following me on Instastories, you will know a lot of these experiences already. But I hope to add more detail here on the blog.

MAY 1 - Collapsing of the Vessels
This was a 4 hour surgery to stop blood from going into the Tumor.
In the middle of the process (maikal was awake) they said the Tumor was having spasms, which the Doctors replied with 'hmmm thats weird'.
The DEMON knew it was about to get taken out!

This woman. She is an Angel. A Saint.

MAY 2 - Surgery Day. The Big Day.

Mom and I left the house at 6:30am and headed straight to the hospital. We actually caught Maikal as they were pushing him down stairs to get prepped.

We sat with him for 2 hours before they took him. Our nerves. I was also so excited for this surgery. It was hopefully an end to all of this!

Mom and I went and did some errands and took a walk around the pond. The surgery was set to take about 8 hours, so there was no sense in just stay in that waiting room worrying the whole time.

We went back in the late afternoon and set ourselves up in the waiting area. After about 1 hour of waiting, the Doctor came out and sat right in front of me. Was I ready to hear the news if it was bad? I had to be. So I sat up, eyes wide open, holding back the nervous tears. He started talking and my brain was on fire waiting for him to say it. Hoping he would say it. Needing him to say it.

It was a success.

Im sorry what?? Say it again. IT. WAS. A. SUCCESS. That Doctor sat there, and i felt like he was just so proud of himself because it was actually a very very tough surgery and it went better than he ever could have expected. He was even positive that he would 'put the sciatic to sleep', meaning it would be paralyzed for a few months, so Maikal wouldnt be able to use his leg. But when Maikal woke up and he moved his toes....his Doctor was shocked. I was shocked.

So, you're telling me, that you are very positive that you got ALL the tumor, there is no never damage, and he's going to be fine? It was unreal. A few months ago, we were making back up plans, and 'what if' plans. Plans that put me to tears almost every single night.

Mom and I just sat there in tears. We couldnt even believe it. It was everything we were all praying for. And Maikal didn't even know yet. He was going to be in the recovery area for a little longer, which we were not aloud to go into. So we quickly went back to the kids, made some amazing phone calls and I went back to the hospital to give him the news myself. I looked into his very tired and drugged up eyes and said that he was going to be fine. He replied with 'oh thats awesome' hahahaha. Then an hour later he asked me, 'so how did the surgery go?'. Drugs lol

The night was long and painful for him. I helped in anyway I could, but theres little anyone else could do except for that green drug button lol.

MAY 3 - Things get complicated.

Later that evening, a nurse put in an IV. Right after that Maikal's arm and part if his chest became ICE cold. He was shivering. Turns out the needle was not in his vein at all. Those liquids were being emptied right into his body. This is the last pic I took before it all happened.

Pain. Chest pain. I yelled for that nurse and she came in and started running around to see what was wrong. Then I heard CODE WHITE, which basically means 'emergency team is needed, this guy might die'.

CLOTS. 2 in his left lung.

Maikal was shaking in Pain and couldn't breath. One of our Church friends was already on his way to the hospital to bring Maikal a burger, and he just so happen to be an excellent Doctor who deals with these cases. I mean what are the Odds....Angels were surrounding us. When he got there, he watched over us like a bull dog. Making sure he got the best care for this circumstance. It was a very scary few hours. He was eventually sent down to the ICU where they needed to watch him closely.

He spent 3 days in the ICU. Hooked up to wires. It was a very uncomfortable stay. You don't get much sleep at a hospital.

So 10 days in the Hospital. Would have been half that if those dang clots wouldn't have formed and made everything all complicated. Now he has to be on Meds for a year because of it. But it happens.

He was so so happy to be home, where he was finally able to shower haha. We taped a garbage bag to his legs to cover his leg ha.

2 Weeks Post OP Appointment.

We took those bandages off and had a look at that scar! It's so intense!

This was also the appointment that 100% confirmed that they got all the Cancer.

The Doctor sat us down, he went on as if it was going to be bad news....so my heart was kind of stopping.

But, I am happy, ecstatic, amazed, and to let everyone know,

that Maikal is officially,

CANCER FREE

He did it. He beat it. He survived it.

This is the best news ever.

You know, May is my favourite month. It's our anniversary, mothers day, may long, and my birthday. And although this has been one of the toughest months of our lives, it's also the month that Maikal Beat Cancer. Just one more thing we get to celebrate in May every year :)

4 weeks post op photo.

nasty.

These were taken 2 days ago.

The back of the knee, yikes!

Maikal describes his pain as knives stabbing him and/or ripping skin.

So it hurts...

OK, now for the fun part.

SURGERY PHOTOS!!!

Warning: if you are squeamish.....LOOK AWAY!!!

The Tumor is right there in the middle.

That long white thing in the middle is the sciatic nerve.

Its out!

Maikal continuously calls the tumor a 'demon heart'. So I did a little funny thing in photoshop..

OK heres the real thing,...

It looks just like a demon heart right!???

So happy that thing is out!!!

We wanted to keep it, but that was a no go lol.

Again, I would like to give shout outs to those who have helped us along this journey. Couldn't have done any of this without you. Especially Mama Lowry. You were there for every minute during this tough time. Love you.

For those who gave us encouragement, for checking in, for meals, for babysitting, for kind words, for rides, for praying and fasting, for coming to the hospital, and the continual offer to help. Even still.